Can you get a ticket in the air?

Howdy my friends,

First, ... and foremost, ... HAPPY CANADA DAY!

I have a burning question? ... Can you get a ticket while flying?

Last Sunday, I flew out to Fort McMurray quite late in the evening. We have contracted our flying this summer with a new carrier, and I am just beginning to get to know our pilots.

I need to tell you that while I am not a real frequent "bush flyer", ... at least not until this year, ... and I am not a queasy flyer, ... I actually like a bit of turbulence and bouncing around in the clouds. But, ...

A few years ago I had an experience with a float-plane pilot that led me to develop a "theory" about bush pilots.

I fish every year with two very good friends and we usually always go to the same fly-in lodge. This particular year we were flown in by a pilot we had all flown with before. Good pilot, nice guy, and always did a good job! When our trip ended and the plane came in to get us, we commented to each other that we thought the incoming landing looked a bit rough from our vantage point on the dock.

We helped tie-up the plane, assisted with off-loading the new passengers, their gear and miscellaneous cargo before beginning the process of loading our own gear. As we were going back and forth on the dock, I happened to notice the pilot who came in to pick us up was wearing a polished leather pair of "Penny-Loafers", complete with shiny new pennies in them! So, I nudged my buddies and said "Boys!, ... check out "Buddy's" shoes!" ... at which point one of my buddies said they had never seen a "Bush Pilot" wearing Penny-Loafers before! For some reason, ... it became cause for concern.

So, ... when we taxied out into the lake for take-off and began our acceleration for take-off, we commented to each other that we did not think he had given himself enough room as we were hurtling toward shore at break-neck speed and we were running out of room to lift off. We truly started to get nervous as he was trying to lift-off and we were sure we were not going to make it!

Well, ... long-story-short, ... we did make it, ... but I could have reached out the window and picked leaves off the tree-tops!!!!! Way too close for comfort!!

Our "theory" became our reality! ... "NEVER trust a "bush pilot" who shows up on your dock wearing "Penny Loafers" or polished leather shoes!!!

Now, ... back to last Sunday's flight. ... the plane shows up at the Gunnar Airstrip, out jumps the pilot and, ... guess what? ... He's wearing Black, polished leather loafers!! Oh-Oh!

So, we taxi, take off and, ... I'm thinking that we just tossed-out our leather shoe theory. But wait! ... we no sooner get to altitude and "Buddy" puts us in auto-pilot mode. At that point he reached down on the floor, took a hand-held GPS out of a bag and, proceeded to "fiddle" with it for about 10 minutes! Then, ... out came the I-Phone and we proceeded to "text" for a few minutes, ... between the GPS and the I-Phone, our guy was pre-occupied for the better part of an hour!

In the meantime, I am sitting in the back watching this and thinking to myself, "On the ground, if the cops see you texting while driving, you can be given a ticket! And, rightfully so! Now, does that mean you should be ticketed for the same behaviour in the air? Or, ... is this type of behaviour directly related to wearing polished leather shoes??? Think about that for awhile!

Anyway, ... since then, I have learned "Buddy's" name is Richard. He is a skilled pilot who spent the last few years flying in Africa and the Congo! Simply put, ... this guy knows his stuff! So, ... after a couple of additional flights together, I shared my "leather shoe" theory with him. When I was done, he managed a dry smile and said "we're pilots! We wear uniforms, ... black slacks, golf shirts and, ... leather shoes!

So who knew? (You learn something new everyday!)

It's a beautiful day as I sit here and write this, ... calm waters, little wind and temperatures near 20 at 9:00am, ... we have 14 new guys who arrived yesterday following 3 days of really rough weather. They are indeed in for a great day!

Well, ... I had better get back to my real job! Take good care, play safe, ... and try and be kind to one another!

Cheers!

Paul